U.S. patent application number 12/716268 was filed with the patent office on 2011-09-08 for fueling status monitor and alarm.
Invention is credited to Nicholas Iozzo.
Application Number | 20110215941 12/716268 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44530867 |
Filed Date | 2011-09-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110215941 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Iozzo; Nicholas |
September 8, 2011 |
Fueling Status Monitor and Alarm
Abstract
A device fueling status monitor and alarm includes: a portable
powered device; a refueling energy source adapted to refuel the
portable powered device; a monitor associated with either the
portable powered device or the refueling energy source, wherein the
monitor monitors conditions of the portable powered device or the
refueling energy source to detect alarm conditions, wherein the
monitored conditions include the proximity of the portable powered
device to the refueling energy source and whether the portable
powered device is being refueled; an alarm condition transmitter
associated with the monitor and adapted to transmit an alarm signal
when alarm conditions are recognized by the monitor; and an alarm
condition receiver adapted to receive signals from the alarm
condition transmitter and signal an alarm condition to a user.
Inventors: |
Iozzo; Nicholas; (Geneva,
IL) |
Family ID: |
44530867 |
Appl. No.: |
12/716268 |
Filed: |
March 2, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/686.6 ;
340/540 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08B 21/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
340/686.6 ;
340/540 |
International
Class: |
G08B 21/00 20060101
G08B021/00 |
Claims
1. A device fueling status monitor and alarm comprising: a portable
powered device; a refueling energy source adapted to refuel the
portable powered device; a monitor associated with either the
portable powered device or the refueling energy source, wherein the
monitor monitors conditions of the portable powered device or the
refueling energy source to detect alarm conditions, wherein the
monitored conditions include the proximity of the portable powered
device to the refueling energy source and whether the portable
powered device is being refueled; an alarm condition transmitter
associated with the monitor and adapted to transmit an alarm signal
when alarm conditions are recognized by the monitor; and an alarm
condition receiver adapted to receive signals from the alarm
condition transmitter and signal an alarm condition to a user.
2. The device fueling status monitor and alarm of claim 1 wherein
the portable powered device is a vehicle.
3. The device fueling status monitor and alarm of claim 1 wherein
the portable powered device is a portable electronic device.
4. The device fueling status monitor and alarm of claim 1 wherein
the refueling energy source is adapted to provide electricity to
the portable powered device.
5. The device fueling status monitor and alarm of claim 1 wherein
the monitor is associated with the portable electronic device.
6. The device fueling status monitor and alarm of claim 1 wherein
the monitor is associated with the refueling energy source.
7. The device fueling status monitor and alarm of claim 1 wherein
the monitor monitors the proximity of the portable powered device
to the refueling energy source directly.
8. The device fueling status monitor and alarm of claim 1 wherein
the monitor monitors the proximity of the portable powered device
to the refueling energy source via a proxy.
9. The device of claim 1 wherein the alarm condition receiver is
associated with the portable electronic device.
10. The device of claim 1 wherein the alarm condition receiver is
independent of the portable electronic device.
11. A method of monitoring a device's fueling status, comprising
the steps of: monitoring conditions of a portable powered device or
a refueling energy source, including monitoring at least the
proximity of the portable powered device to the refueling energy
source and whether the portable powered device is being refueled;
detecting alarm conditions based on the monitored conditions; and
transmitting a detected alarm condition to a remote receiver
adapted to signal the alarm condition to a user.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of monitoring
conditions of a portable powered device or a refueling energy
source includes monitoring the power status of the portable powered
device.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein monitoring the power status
includes monitoring whether the portable powered device is on, off,
in standby or in active use.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of monitoring
conditions of a portable powered device or a refueling energy
source includes monitoring security functions of the portable
powered device.
15. The method of claim 14 where monitoring security functions of
the portable powered device includes whether the powered portable
device has its security features enabled.
16. A monitoring and alarm system comprising: a powered portable
device; a refueling energy source adapted to refuel the portable
powered device; a monitor associated with either the portable
powered device or the refueling energy source; a transmitter
associated with the monitor and adapted to transmit an alarm signal
when an alarm condition is recognized by the monitor; and a
receiver adapted to receive signals from the alarm condition
transmitter and signal the alarm condition to a user, wherein the
alarm condition occurs when the monitor detects a predetermined
functional condition of the powered portable device or the
refueling energy source when the portable powered device is within
a predetermined distance from the refueling energy source.
17. The monitoring and alarm system of claim 16 wherein the powered
portable device is an automobile.
18. The monitoring and alarm system of claim 16 wherein the monitor
is associated with the powered portable device.
19. The monitoring and alarm system of claim 16 wherein the
transmitter is associated with the powered portable device.
20. The monitoring and alarm system of claim 16 wherein the
receiver is associated with the powered portable device.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present subject matter relates generally to a fueling
status monitor and alarm. Specifically, the present subject matter
relates to a system and method for monitoring the refueling status
of a device and alerting a caretaker of the device if the status
violates given preset conditions.
[0002] There are an ever increasing number of portable electrical
devices that rely on rechargeable batteries for their power source.
For example, such devices include everything from cellular phones
to electric vehicles. As our reliance on these portable electrical
devices increases, the importance of monitoring their power status
increases as well. The same issues apply to any portable powered
device that relies on a refillable power source, such as, for
example, gasoline, compressed natural gas, compressed air,
hydrogen, etc.
[0003] Accordingly, a need exists for a system and for monitoring
the refueling status of a device and alert a caretaker of the
device if the status violates given preset conditions.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The subject matter disclosed herein addresses these issues
by providing a method and system that allow a device caretaker to
monitor the refueling status of a device.
[0005] A device fueling status monitor and alarm includes: a
portable powered device; a refueling energy source adapted to
refuel the portable powered device; a monitor associated with
either the portable powered device or the refueling energy source,
wherein the monitor monitors conditions of the portable powered
device or the refueling energy source to detect alarm conditions,
wherein the monitored conditions include the proximity of the
portable powered device to the refueling energy source and whether
the portable powered device is being refueled; an alarm condition
transmitter associated with the monitor and adapted to transmit an
alarm signal when alarm conditions are recognized by the monitor;
and an alarm condition receiver adapted to receive signals from the
alarm condition transmitter and signal an alarm condition to a
user.
[0006] A method of monitoring a device's fueling status includes
the steps of: monitoring conditions of a portable powered device or
a refueling energy source, including monitoring at least the
proximity of the portable powered device to the refueling energy
source and whether the portable powered device is being refueled;
detecting alarm conditions based on the monitored conditions; and
transmitting a detected alarm condition to a remote receiver
adapted to signal the alarm condition to a user.
[0007] A monitoring and alarm system includes: a powered portable
device; a refueling energy source adapted to refuel the portable
powered device; a monitor associated with either the portable
powered device or the refueling energy source; a transmitter
associated with the monitor and adapted to transmit an alarm signal
when an alarm condition is recognized by the monitor; and a
receiver adapted to receive signals from the alarm condition
transmitter and signal the alarm condition to a user, wherein the
alarm condition occurs when the monitor detects a predetermined
functional condition of the powered portable device or the
refueling energy source when the portable powered device is within
a predetermined distance from the refueling energy source.
[0008] An advantage of the method and system provided herein is to
provide an intelligent alarm system for a powered portable
device.
[0009] Another advantage of the method and system provided herein
is to provide intelligent monitoring of the refueling status of a
powered portable device.
[0010] A further advantage of the method and system provided herein
is to provide a communication hub for conditions related to a
powered portable device.
[0011] Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the
examples will be set forth in part in the description which
follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the
art upon examination of the following description and the
accompanying drawings or may be learned by production or operation
of the examples. The objects and advantages of the concepts may be
realized and attained by means of the methodologies,
instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the
appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in
accord with the present concepts, by way of example only, not by
way of limitations. In the figures, like reference numerals refer
to the same or similar elements.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a device fueling
status monitor and alarm system.
[0014] FIG. 2 is flow chart illustrating a method for implementing
a device fueling monitor and alarm.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a device fueling status monitor and alarm
system 100 (the system 100). As shown in FIG. 1, the system 100
includes: a portable powered device 102; a refueling energy source
104; a monitor 106; a transmitter 108; and a receiver 110.
[0016] In the example shown in FIG. 1, a device fueling status
monitor and alarm system 100 includes: a portable powered device
102; a refueling energy source 104 adapted to refuel the portable
powered device 102; a monitor 106 for monitoring conditions of the
portable powered device 102 or the refueling energy source 104 to
detect alarm conditions, wherein the monitored conditions include
the proximity of the portable powered device 102 to the refueling
energy source 104 and whether the portable powered device 102 is
being refueled; an alarm condition transmitter 108 associated with
the monitor 106 and adapted to transmit an alarm signal when alarm
conditions are recognized by the monitor 106; and an alarm
condition receiver 110 adapted to receive signals from the alarm
condition transmitter 108 and signal an alarm condition to a
user.
[0017] As used herein, the term portable powered device 102
describes any device whose location relative to its refueling
energy source 104 is not fixed and whose operation is not limited
to a direct connection to the refueling energy source 104. In order
for a portable powered device 102 to operate when disconnected from
its refueling energy source 104, the portable powered device 102
must include an internal energy source 112, such as, for example,
one or more batteries or capacitors. Accordingly, as used herein, a
refueling energy source 104 is distinct from an internal energy
source 112. The portable powered device 102 may rely on any
refillable power source, such as, for example, electricity,
gasoline, compressed natural gas, compressed air, hydrogen,
etc.
[0018] For example, the typical desktop computer is not a portable
powered device 102 as the term is used herein, as its operation
relies on being plugged into a power outlet and does not include an
internal energy source 112. However, the typical laptop computer is
a portable powered device 102 as it includes a portable battery
pack that functions as an internal energy source 112 that may be
charged and recharged by AC adapter that plugs into an electrical
outlet, which functions as the refueling energy source 104.
Similarly, in an example wherein the portable powered device 102 is
an electric vehicle, the internal energy source 112 would be the
vehicle's battery or batteries and the refueling energy source 104
would be the recharging station used to recharge the vehicle's
battery or batteries.
[0019] Other examples of portable powered devices 102 are: portable
electronic devices, including phones, portable music devices,
cameras, netbooks, tablets and laptop computers, etc.; cordless
tools, including vacuums, drills, saws, lawnmowers, etc.; vehicles,
including golf carts, go carts, all terrain vehicles, snowmobiles,
mopeds, scooters, motorcycles, jet skis, boats, passenger vehicles,
commercial vehicles, industrial equipment, farm equipment,
construction equipment, etc. It is understood that the term
portable powered device 102 as used herein describes any powered
device with an internal power source that is capable of being
recharged, refueled, refilled or repowered.
[0020] As used herein, a refueling energy source 104 is any energy,
fuel, or power source used to recharge, refuel, refillable or
repower the internal energy source 112 of the portable powered
device 102. In an example using a rechargeable phone as the
portable powered device 102, the refueling energy source 104 is the
device that charges the phone's battery, not the battery itself. In
an example using an electric vehicle as the portable powered device
102, the refueling energy source 104 is the charging station
located, for example, in the user's garage, not the battery or
batteries internal to the electric vehicle.
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates a method for implementing a device
fueling monitor and alarm (the method 200). As shown in FIG. 2, the
method 200 includes the steps of: monitoring conditions of a
portable powered device 102 or a refueling energy source 104,
including at least the proximity of the portable powered device 102
to the refueling energy source 104 and whether the portable powered
device 102 is being refueled 202; detecting alarm conditions based
on the monitored conditions 204; and transmitting a detected alarm
condition to a remote receiver 110 adapted to signal the alarm
condition to a user 206.
[0022] The method 200 shown in FIG. 2, will now be described using
the example of an electric passenger vehicle as the portable
powered device 102 and an electric charging station as the
refueling energy source 104.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, the first step in the method 200 is
monitoring conditions of the portable powered device 102 or a
refueling energy source 104, including at least the proximity of
the portable powered device 102 to the refueling energy source 104
and whether the portable powered device 102 is being refueled 202.
As shown in FIG. 1, the conditions of the portable powered device
102 and/or the refueling energy source 104 can be monitored using a
monitor 106.
[0024] The monitor 106 may be provided within the portable powered
device 102, within the refueling energy source 104, adapted to be
associated with both devices or may be independently provided. For
example, in one embodiment, the monitor 106 may include a portion
integrated with the portable powered device 102 and another portion
integrated with the refueling energy source 104, wherein the two
potions communicate with each other to determine the distance
between them. For example, the portable powered device 102 may
include an RFID tag and the refueling energy source 104 may include
an RFID reader such that their proximity may be monitored.
Additionally, the monitor 106 may further be integrated with the
portable powered device 102 to monitor whether it is being refueled
or integrated within the refueling energy source 104 to monitor
whether it is refueling. Additionally, the monitor 106 may monitor
the status of the internal energy source 112, for example, to
determine whether refueling is required.
[0025] It is contemplated that the portion of the monitor 106
associated with the portable powered device 102 may be directly or
indirectly associated with the portable powered device 102. For
example, a directly associated monitor 106 maybe incorporated into
the portable powered device 102 itself, as described above with
respect to the example using an RFID tag. An indirectly associated
monitor 106 may monitor the location of an associated item as a
proxy for the location of the portable powered device 102. For
example, in embodiments in which the portable powered device 102 is
an automobile, the key and/or fob may incorporate a portion of the
monitor 106, such that the position of the key and/or fob is used
as a proxy for the location of the portable powered device 102.
Such adaptations may be dependant on the type of portable powered
device 102 used in the system 100 and the number and types of
devices and/or accessories associated with the powered portable
device 102, as will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the
art.
[0026] For example, when the portable powered device 102 is an
automobile and the monitor 106 is incorporated, at least in part,
into multiple keys and/or fobs (e.g., key one and key two), the
monitor 106 may incorporate algorithms to track and monitor the
typical pattern of key displacement, the data being incorporated
into the monitoring process. For example, if key one is always near
the refueling energy source 104 and key two comes and goes, then
the monitoring process may learn to monitor key two for the alarm
conditions. Additionally, each key may incorporate a switch to
disable communication with the refueling energy source 104, which
will enable an operator to selectively control which key should be
used as a proxy for the car. The system 100 may be adapted such
that when a key is turned off and on, the controller 114 updates
and adapts the functions of the system 100 accordingly. Moreover,
should an operator attempt to disable all of the keys adapted into
the system 100, the operator may be alerted and/or prevented from
doing so. Additionally, if the controller 114 determines there are
no keys associated with the refueling energy source 104 after a
predetermined amount of time, an alert condition may be
signaled.
[0027] There are practically an unlimited number of conditions that
may be monitored using the method 200 provided herein. However, for
purposes of the example provided, the primary conditions monitored
are (1) the distance between the portable powered device 102 and
the refueling energy source 104 and (2) whether the refueling
energy source 104 is refueling the portable powered device 102. By
monitoring the distance between the portable powered device 102 and
the refueling energy source 104 and whether the refueling energy
source 104 is refueling the portable powered device 102, a user can
ensure that the portable powered device 102 is being refueled
anytime it is within a given range of the refueling energy source
104. In other words, being aware that the portable powered device
102 is within a given range of the refueling energy source 104, the
user can ensure a refueling opportunity is not missed.
[0028] Whether the portable powered device 102 is being refueled
can be monitored directly or indirectly. For example, the refueling
status may be monitored directly via the portable powered device
102 by incorporating a portion of the monitor 106 that analyzes
whether the fuel supply of the portable powered device 102 is
increasing. For example, the monitor 106 may monitor the pathways
that are a part of the portable powered device's refueling system.
If those pathways are active, then the monitor 106 determines the
portable powered device 102 is being refueled and communicates this
status to the controller 114.
[0029] Similarly, the refueling status may be monitored directly
via the refueling energy source 104 by incorporating a portion of
the monitor 106 that analyzes whether the refueling energy source
104 is providing fuel to the portable powered device 102. For
example, the monitor 106 may monitor whether the refueling power
source 104 is having power drawn from it. When the portable powered
device 102 is connected to the refueling power source 104 and
begins to draw power from refueling power source 104 in a manner
characteristic of the portable powered device 102, the monitor 106
may assume the refueling power source 104 is charging an associated
portable powered device 102 and communicate this status to the
controller 114. The monitor 106 may maintain this assumption as
long as the refueling power source 104 is coupled with the portable
powered device 102. Then, once the coupling is broken, the monitor
106 may assume the refueling power source 104 is no longer
refueling the portable powered device 102 and communicate this
status to the controller 114.
[0030] Alternatively, a portion of the monitor 106 may be
integrated into the utility supplying the fuel to the refueling
power source 104. The monitor 106 may then communicate to the
controller 114 when the circuit supplying the fuel is active. It is
understood that each of the example above are illustrative in
purpose and may be employed singularly or in any combination with
each other.
[0031] It is further contemplated that the subject matter disclosed
herein provides other combinations of primary conditions and, in
some embodiments, the proximity to the refueling energy source 104
and whether the refueling energy source 104 is refueling the
portable powered device 102 may not be monitored at all. For
example, the primary conditions may include: (1) monitoring the
proximity of a first object to a location or other object and (2)
monitoring a functional condition of the first or second object.
Additional examples are provided herein.
[0032] The second step shown in FIG. 2, is detecting alarm
conditions based on the monitored conditions 204. In order to
detect the alarm conditions, a controller 114 may be incorporated
within the monitor 106. In the example of the electric passenger
vehicle 102 and electric charging station 104, an alarm condition
may be triggered when the electric charging station 104 is within
fifty feet of the electric charging station 104 and the electric
passenger vehicle 102 is not being recharged (in the instance in
which the monitor 106 is integrated with the electric passenger
vehicle 102), the electric charging station 104 is not charging a
portable powered device 102 (in the instance in which the monitor
106 is integrated with the electric charging station 104) or both
(in the instance in which the monitor 106 is integrated with both
the electric passenger vehicle 102 and the electric charging
station 104.
[0033] In another example, an alarm condition may be triggered when
the electric charging station 104 is within fifty feet of the
electric charging station 104, the electric passenger vehicle 102
is below a threshold power level and the electric passenger vehicle
102 is not being recharged (in the instance in which the monitor
106 is integrated with the electric passenger vehicle 102), the
electric charging station 104 is not charging a portable powered
device 102 (in the instance in which the monitor 106 is integrated
with the electric charging station 104) or both (in the instance in
which the monitor 106 is integrated with both the electric
passenger vehicle 102 and the electric charging station 104.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, the method 200 may further include the
step of transmitting a detected alarm condition to a remote
receiver 110 adapted to signal the alarm condition to a user 206.
As shown in FIG. 1, the monitor 106 may include an alarm condition
transmitter 108 functionally controlled by the controller 114.
Accordingly, when triggered by a detected alarm condition, the
alarm condition transmitter 108 may communicate the alarm condition
to the remote receiver 110. It is understood that the alarm
condition transmitter 108 and the remote receiver 110 are not
always required in the system 100 and that there may be examples in
which the alarm conditions are indicated locally in the portable
powered device 102, the refueling energy source 104 and/or the
monitor 106. It is further contemplated that the remote receiver
110 may be a dongle, a fob, an SMS enabled device, an internet
enabled device or any other electronic mechanism adapted to receive
an alarm signal from the monitor 106, whether wired or wirelessly.
It is also contemplated that the remote receiver 110 may be a
portable or stationary device.
[0035] The remote receiver 110 may provide an alarm notice to a
user in any manner as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill
in the art, whether the alarm notice is visual, audio, tactile or
otherwise. For example, a dongle configured as a remote receiver
110 may provide a visual alert, such as, for example a blinking
light. In another example, a cellular phone configured as a remote
receiver 110 may receive an SMS message and sound a predetermined
audio alert. Further, if the remote receiver 110 is adapted within
the dashboard or control panel of a vehicle, it may signal via a
visual alert, an audio alert or a combination of both. The remote
receiver 110 may be incorporated into a plurality of elements in
the system 100 which may operate in combination to alert a user.
For example, the portable powered device 102 and the refueling
power source 104 may be configured to provide low level direct
alerts when an alarm condition is triggered such as, for example,
simple lights flashing and/or low intensity beeps, while a key
chain device may be adapted to provide higher level alerts, such
as, for example, a high pitched noise and the display of
information on a screen or via indicator lights. Further, the
transmitter 108 may be adapted to communicate via the internet via
any of the multitudes of wireless technologies or via a direct
connection to communicate a tweet, update a remote database, send
an e-mail message, and/or update a web-based application, etc. As
can be seen, there are numerous adaptations of remote receivers 110
that may be employed.
[0036] In one example, when the monitor 106 detects the powered
portable device 102 is in proximity to the refueling energy source
104 and further detects that the powered portable device 102 is not
being refueled, the system 100 may alert the user via the remote
receiver 110. The alert may be a progressive alert. For example, at
its lowest level, the alert may be a combination of just noticeable
audio and/or visual alerts coming from the powered portable device
102, a remote receiver 110 adapted within the powered portable
device 102, an independent remote receiver 110 (e.g., a keychain
device), and/or a remote receiver 110 adapted within the refueling
energy source 104. As time passes, the alert may get more intense
and more difficult for a user to ignore or miss. Additionally, the
user may be provided an opportunity to turn off or on or pause the
alarm. Such functionality may be particularly beneficial in
situations in which the user may have purposefully opted to not
recharge the portable powered device 102. In such an instance case,
being able to disable the alarm permanently or for a set amount of
time may be advantageous.
[0037] The method 200 described herein can be used to monitor any
number of alarm conditions. Using the electric passenger vehicle
example above, additional alarm conditions may include, for
example, whether the vehicle's doors are locked, whether the garage
door is open, whether the vehicle's lights are on, whether the fuel
level is below a certain threshold, etc. Additionally, remote
operation to address many of these alarm conditions may also be
executed (e.g., close the garage door, lock the car doors, turn off
the lights, etc.) by the further integration of the monitor 106 and
controller 114 into the portable powered device 102, the refueling
energy source 104 and any ancillary devices.
[0038] It in contemplated that the controller 114 may function as a
hub to provide a complete ecosystem of portable powered device 102
monitoring. For example, if the portable powered device 102 is an
automobile, each door and window within an associated garage may
have a portion of the monitor 106 (or plurality of monitors 106)
through which the controller 114 tracks whether the doors and
windows are open or closed. Additionally, the monitor 106 may
determine the status or each door, hood, trunk, and or hatchback
(open, closed and locked, or closed and unlocked) of the
automobile, whether any interior or exterior light is on, how much
fuel is remaining on-board, the state (e.g., on, off, moving, idle,
etc.) and environmental settings (e.g., A/C, heat, temperature,
blower, etc.), audio settings, the position of its seats, minors,
pedals, and/or other driver or passenger controlled adjustments,
etc. For conditions that can be actively controlled by the system
100, the controller 114 can provide a command to change any of
these settings.
[0039] To accomplish the user controlled functions of the system
100 described herein, the system may include a user interface
adapted to work with the controller 114. The user interface may be
included into any one or more elements of the system 100, such as,
for example, the portable powered device 102, the refueling power
supply 104, the monitor 106, the transmitter 108, the receiver 110,
etc. The one or more user interfaces may be used to configure the
system 100, view the history of the system 100, receive alerts from
the system 100 or cause actions within the system 100. The user
interface may take any form and include various levels of
capabilities as best fits its form factor. For example, the user
interface may take the form of a key chain device and subsume the
role currently played by the door lock/unlock device currently in
use in most vehicles. The user interface may further take the form
of a mobile device, such as a cell phone, tablet, netbook, etc.
Accordingly, the user interface may include a dedicated application
installed on it or may be able to communicate with an internet
based control. Alternatively, the user interface may take the form
of a computer.
[0040] Although described in the example above as a one to one
relationship, a single portable powered device 102 may have a
relationship with more then one refueling energy source 104 (e.g.,
one at home, one at work, a public access refueling energy source
104, a refueling energy source 104 offered by a utility or business
concern, etc.). Similarly, a single refueling energy source 104 may
have a relationship with more than one portable powered device
102.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 1, the system 100 may includes a controller
114 and associated memory 116. The controller 114 runs a variety of
application programs, accesses and stores data, and controls the
monitor 106, transmitter 108 and receiver 110. While further
description of the controller 114 is provided below, it is
understood that the controller 114 may be embodied in any one or
more electronic systems arranged to control the electronic aspects
of the system 100 and the method 200 described herein.
[0042] As shown by the above discussion, aspects of the system 100
are controlled by a controller 114. Typically, the controller 114
is implemented by one or more programmable data processing devices.
The hardware elements operating systems and programming languages
of such devices are conventional in nature, and it is presumed that
those skilled in the art are adequately familiar therewith.
[0043] For example, the controller 114 may be a central control
processing system utilizing a central processing unit (CPU),
memories and an interconnect bus. The CPU may contain a single
microprocessor, or it may contain a plurality of microprocessors
for configuring the CPU as a multi-processor system. The memories
include a main memory, such as a dynamic random access memory
(DRAM) and cache, as well as a read only memory, such as a PROM, an
EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, or the like. The system also includes mass
storage devices when appropriate. In operation, the main memory
stores at least portions of instructions for execution by the CPU
and data for processing in accord with the executed
instructions.
[0044] The controller 114 may also include one or more input/output
interfaces for communications with one or more processing systems.
Although not shown, one or more such interfaces may enable
communications via a network, e.g., to enable sending and receiving
instructions electronically. The physical communication links may
be wired or wireless.
[0045] The controller 114 may further include appropriate
input/output ports for interconnection with one or more output
displays (e.g., monitors, printers, etc.) and one or more input
mechanisms (e.g., keyboard, mouse, voice, touch, bioelectric
devices, etc.) serving as the one or more user interfaces for the
controller 114. For example, the controller 114 may include a
graphics subsystem to drive an output display. The links of the
peripherals to the system may be wired connections or use wireless
communications.
[0046] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the controller
114 also encompasses systems such as host computers, servers,
workstations, network terminals, and the like. In fact, the use of
the term controller 114 is intended to represent a broad category
of components that are well known in the art.
[0047] Hence aspects of the system 100 and the method 200 discussed
herein encompass hardware and software for controlling the relevant
functions. Software may take the form of code or executable
instructions for causing a controller 114 or other programmable
equipment to perform the relevant steps, where the code or
instructions are carried by or otherwise embodied in a medium
readable by the controller 114 or other machine. Instructions or
code for implementing such operations may be in the form of
computer instruction in any form (e.g., source code, object code,
interpreted code, etc.) stored in or carried by any readable
medium.
[0048] As used herein, terms such as computer or machine "readable
medium" refer to any medium that participates in providing
instructions to a processor for execution. Such a medium may take
many forms, including but not limited to, tangible storage media,
as well as carrier wave and tangible transmission media.
Non-volatile storage media include, for example, optical or
magnetic disks, such as any of the storage devices in any
computer(s) shown in the drawings. Volatile storage media include
dynamic memory, such as main memory of such a computer platform.
Tangible transmission media include coaxial cables; copper wire and
fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a bus within a
computer system. Carrier-wave transmission media can take the form
of electric or electromagnetic signals, or acoustic or light waves
such as those generated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared
(IR) data communications. Common forms of computer-readable media
therefore include for example: a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard
disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any
other optical medium, punch cards paper tape, any other physical
medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM and EPROM, a
FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave
transporting data or instructions, cables or links transporting
such a carrier wave, or any other medium from which a computer can
read programming code and/or data. Many of these forms of computer
readable media may be involved in carrying one or more sequences of
one or more instructions to a processor for execution.
[0049] It should be noted that various changes and modifications to
the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be
apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present invention and without diminishing its
attendant advantages.
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